A DRIVER 'has no recollection' of crashing his car or assaulting a police officer in Hereford, a court has been told.

Martin Daniel admitted failing to provide a specimen while in charge of a vehicle, common assault of an emergency worker, and obstructing or resisting police when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford in November.

Police were called to a three-car crash in Hereford's Grandstand Road at 11.40pm on July 30, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.

Officers said Daniel, who had been seen in one of the cars by a witness, was taken to the floor after attempting to run away when he was told he was being arrested for failing to provide a specimen.

"There was some resistance," Mr Hambling said.

"The officer pressed his emergency button for assistance, and other officers arrived."

Daniel, who is of Ash Close, Malvern, was taken to Hereford police station, where he kicked a police officer in the stomach, Mr Hambling said.

OTHER NEWS:

Mark Turnbull, for Daniel, said the 33-year-old had suffered an injury to his arm, believed to have been in the crash, and is still undergoing physiotherapy.

"In interview in August he tried to help police as best he could, but he could not," Mr Turnbull said.

"He has no recollection of what happened on that day after leaving work. He says everything is blank until he came to in the hospital."

The court heard Daniel has had other instances of memory loss in the past and had been off work due to mental health issues before returning shortly before the crash, and that he believes his behaviour may have been due to his difficulties with crowds of people and as police were holding his injured arm behind him to cuff him.

Daniel was handed a 12-month driving ban and a 12-month community order with a 90-day electronically monitored alcohol abstinence order.

He must also pay court costs of £185 and a £114 victim surcharge.

Want to stay up to date with all the latest Herefordshire court and crime news? Click here to join our Hereford Times Court and Crime group on Facebook or click here to sign up for our weekly court and crime email newsletter.